TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nationally acclaimed artists, craftsmen and educators will highlight the 2022 Moundville Native American Festival Oct. 12-15 at The University of Alabama Moundville Archaeological Park.
The festival returns in person for the first time since 2019 and includes several prominent Native American performers including Lyndon Alec performing hoop dancing, and the group Chikasha Hithla demonstrating Chickasaw stomp dancing.
“The festival is one the largest events that brings people to the park every year,” said Dr. Clay Nelson, director of the UA Moundville Archaeological Park. “And while virtual events can help educate about Moundville, nothing can compare to experiencing the site in-person. We can describe the earthen mounds as much as we want but seeing them in person really helps illustrate what great engineering feats the Indigenous peoples of Alabama were doing in the 13th century.”
Living history presenters will reenact how different Native American tribes lived and thrived over the years. Presenters will demonstrate cooking, dressmaking, tools and weapons.
The children’s area will include numerous crafts activities and other educational opportunities. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Jones Archaeological Museum, gift shop and café, which will be open throughout the festival.
Vendors of quality Native American crafts will also be on hand, as well as food vendors who will provide Native American foods and traditional festival foods.
“We can learn from the past inhabitants of Alabama about how the environment was used, how people interacted with one another and what can be appreciated about the areas around us,” said Nelson. “It’s important to learn about Moundville and then remind people that Native Americans are still around. They did not disappear.
“At the Moundville Native American Festival, we celebrate, not just the past, but the present with our many demonstrators and Native American participants, showing a real connection between the past and the present.”
Festival hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10 per person. Children 5 years old and under are free. Pre-registered groups of 10 or more are $8 per person. Visit the Moundville Native American Festival website for more information on early group registration and festival activities.
Moundville Archaeological Park is 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa off Alabama Highway 69.
More Information:
Moundville Native American Festival website
Contact:
Rebecca Johnson
rljohnson8@ua.edu
Contact
Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums, rljohnson8@ua.edu, 205-348-6283